She's Got...Personality!

The college years are a distant blur for me now. Wait, let me rephrase. The "academic" aspects of the college years are hazy at best. But I managed to dig out of my real-world-addled brain the interest I used to have in studying personality traits. Namely, those associated with the Myers-Briggs Personality Type Indicator. I think if you grasp these concepts, you may not end up wanting to kill your contrarian co-workers quite so often.

Try it out!

And then read this to decipher the result you get.

I have taken indexes/indices (for the grammar nazis in the crowd) based on this several times, and my result has been quite consistent: I am an ENFJ—that is, an "Extroverted, Intuitive, Feeling Judger (Judging)." I fall on the spectrum of very expressed extrovert, slightly intuitive, distinctly feeling, slightly judging.

That's the opposite of an introverted, sensing, thinking perceiver. Who, according to my sense of character judgment, always happen to be the people with whom I get along the least. As an extrovert, my I identify myself by my interactions with others. If I can't have a deep conversation with you, I can't really connect to you.

Having fallen on the intuitive side of the spectrum, I tend to insert or add my own meaning to the information I take in on a daily basis. I've noticed that I'm not as stimulated by people who stick to the basics as those who spice them up with a little color. Like stereo instructions as a metaphor for life. However, since I fall so slightly on the intuitive side, I don't like to stray too far from the printed copy...

As a distinct feeler, I'm the CEO who is more likely to fire someone for a bad attitude than someone who is working hard but not getting the bottom-line results necessary. I once heard this one characterized as someone who ascribes feelings to their stuffed animals. Guilty...as charged. Toward my opposite, the thinker—well I "think" that person is often a cold, heartless son of a gun. (As opposed to "commie, homo-loving sons of guns")

And finally, slightly judging...this one is the category in which I find myself rubbing the wrong way with the polar opposite. The perceivers are fly--by-the-seat-of-their-pantsers, always open to new information or stimuli. The judgers, on the other hand, value structure and planning and solid decision-making. In the business of deadlines, such as the one I've been toiling in, the judgers turn into perceivers with a little help from xanax. Kidding! (Not really) It explains why I like to have things planned out and ready to go, rather than waiting for new shit to come to light. I don't like to wander around without purpose. It makes me edgy. And you don't want to see me when I'm edgy. (Jessie SMASHHHH)

Anyway, my point in reflecting on this personality index is that just because you're polar opposites on the spectrum, doesn't mean you can't get along. I think by simply understanding your fren-emy's personality, and how it works alongside yours, you might be able to get some damn work done together!

Get to the Chopper!

Did you ever wonder how it was possible that John Rambo took down a helicopter with a bow and arrow? Or at least did you ever wonder how anyone responsible for any of the Rambo films could think that we would think it was possible?

Well, thanks to Slate's "Explainer" we learn not only that it is possible, but a well placed shot can indeed fell a helicopter.

I'm so glad I know that now. Moral of the story? Don't f#*@ with John Rambo.

Reel Inspiration

Check it out at Guideposts.com!

Anyone seen a blue police box?

You ever get that freaky deja-vu feeling?

A someone in online publishing now, I wonder just how much I have to learn. Not about the future, but about the past...

Or maybe I've been spending way too much time watching Dr. Who.